Ways you can get fit – free

Improve your finances and health at the same time by taking an active interest, writes

Anthony Keane

SHAPING up for summer seems to be an increasingly expensive exercise.

Wearable technology, costly gym memberships, activewear and health supplements have all surged in popularity and use in recent years.

Fitness and financial specialists say while getting healthier is more of an investment than an expense, it doesn’t have to take a big bite out of your household budget.

Personal trainer Anna Liptak said getting fitter could cost nothing.

“All one needs is motivation to get out of the front door and a good pair of shoes,” she said.

“I have now been a fitness trainer for over 15 years – my prices are still the same.

“The commodity items have probably increased but not the actual cost of getting fit.”

Ms Liptak said getting in shape without spending a fortune started with finding an activity you enjoyed and were motivated to do.

“It could be walking, trekking, running, outdoor fitness, yoga, swimming,” she said.

“Find a class or others to do it with so you will be accountable.

“Lock the times into your diary and make these appointments the highest priority in your diary.

“Eventually, after a few weeks, you will have formed your habit and commenced to change your life.”

Mybudget director

Tammy Barton said more people were adding health and fitness expenses to their budgets.

“It’s not just gym memberships; it’s also things like supplements and food, subscriptions or regular physio appointments or massages,” she said. “Personally, I think it’s great that people are being proactive about their health.

“A healthy lifestyle can feel more expensive in the shortterm, but an unhealthy lifestyle will eventually catch up with you and your wallet.”

Ms Barton said riding a bike or walking around the block during a lunch break were free. Some people can’t get motivated without help from others, and this is where gyms and personal trainers can be valuable.

“Shop around before you sign up for a gym membership,” Ms Barton said.

“The gym market is incredibly competitive, which means you, as a consumer, have a lot of bargaining power – don’t be afraid to use it.”

People should understand any contracts before signing up, and could split the cost of personal training with a friend or seek group training at a lower price than individual sessions, Ms Barton said. People should not let peer pressure keep them poor, Ms Barton said.

“It’s tempting to always want the latest tech gadgets and brand name clothing,” she said. “That’s great if you’ve budgeted for it and it’s affordable, but if you’re using your credit card to keep up with the Joneses, it’s time to adjust your spending.”

She said people should look for fitness gear discounts at sales such as the upcoming Black Friday, or perhaps ask for it as a Christmas present. Financial coach Rebecca Pritchard said people could find it very easy to spend hundreds of dollars a week on vitamins and health foods, and some justified that expense because it was for their health.

However, the money to pay for this means less spending elsewhere, and financial experts say balance is the key here.

“Food comes down to planning and preparation,” Ms Pritchard said.

She said people who were better prepared – such as pre-cooking meals on a weekend – ate better, got more value from the supermarket, wasted less food and were less likely to get takeaway.

Ms Barton is a big believer in planning meals, shopping for food just once a week, and using online grocery shopping.

“The less contact you have with the shops, the less you spend,” she said.

“There’s also less chance of grabbing budget and healthbusting little extras like chips and biscuits.”

Ms Barton said people should be wary of health supplement subscription services that oversupplied. “We all know someone who has a cupboard full of supplements they’ve never used because the company kept sending them,” she said.

“Buying supplements over the counter is often cheaper because you only buy them when you’ve run out.”

Pedestrian Council chairman and CEO Harold Scruby said walking was free, improved mental and physical health, and could be achieved through simple steps such as avoiding the car for short trips or getting off a few stops early when taking public transport.

“Build walking into your daily routine,” he said. “There’s no rocket science in this – it’s what we’ve been doing since we came off all fours.”

Mr Scruby said many people paid for expensive gym memberships but didn’t go, while others could get the same benefits without spending the money.

“It’s like the girl who drives to the gym then hops on a walking machine – you don’t need that,” he said.

“I’m not knocking gyms. They will teach you about all the parts of the body you should exercise, but gym injuries can put out exercise regimes for months until they heal.

“Walking is generally injuryfree, unless you walk in front of a bus.

“It’s better if walking is combined with weights for the upper body.”

There’s a pile of free advice, tutorials and videos online around exercise, nutrition, meditation and other healthy pursuits.

Wealth Enhancers founder Finn Kelly said people should not use money as an excuse to ignore their health.

Mr Kelly said he had a daily list for staying healthy, and it started with getting good sleep.

“I eat really well, I move every day, I do a lot of breathing exercises and I use a lot of water,” he said.

“You can pretty much get rid of a lot of sickness just by breathing and drinking water, which saves you money – they’re both free.

“Start saying ‘I’m healthy’, not saying ‘I’m tired’.”